Coronary Artery Bypass Grafts (CABG)

Coronary artery bypass surgery is a form of cardiac bypass surgery in which one or more blocked coronary arteries are bypassed by a blood vessel graft to restore normal blood flow to the heart. The grafts usually come from the patient's own arteries and veins located in the chest, leg or arm.

The veins are usually harvested endoscopically (using minimally invasive techniques). This procedure creates new pathways for oxygen-rich blood to flow to the heart. Appropriate patients frequent benefit of both the by pass procedures.

Minimally-Invasive Surgery (MID-CAB, Valve Surgery)

As with the CABG, the MID-CAB surgery also creates a bypass around a blockage in a heart artery. In this procedure, a smaller incision is used and the procedure is usually done while the heart is beating, without the use of a heart-lung machine. Surgeons use different methods to slow down and steady the heart. This procedure is primarily indicated for patients with lesions in specific areas of the heart.

Minimally invasive value surgery also involves a smaller incision, and a modified version of the heart-lung machine is used. Your surgeon will determine what is appropriate for you.

Valve Replacement and Repair

Various types of valve disease can result in either valvular stenosis, where there is a reduction in the amount of blood that can flow through the valve, or valvular insufficiency, where the valves do not close completely and blood leaks backward across the valve. Your surgeon may make the decision to repair or replace a valve that is not working correctly.

In the case of a repair, typically involving the mitral or tricuspid valve, weakened portions of the valve are removed and the valve usually strengthened and shortened to alleviate the leakage. Mitral value repair is almost always preferred to mitral valve replacement. In the case of valve replacement, options include a new valve (man-made from metals and plastics), a natural valve taken from an organ donor's heart, or a replacement valve from a cow or a pig. Your surgeon will determine which valve is best suited for your condition.

Aortic Aneurysm and Dissection Repair

An aneurysm is a bulge or weakening in the wall of a blood vessel. Although they can form in any blood vessel, they occur mostly commonly in the aorta, abdominal area or the chest cavity. In cases when the aneurysm is large or associated with symptoms, the weakened section of the vessel can be surgically removed and replaced with a graft of artificial material. In some cases a new procedure involving a stent/graft can be utilized to avoid open chest or abdominal surgery.

Ventricular Assist Devices

The ventricular assist device (VAD) is a mechanical pump that helps a weakened heart pump blood throughout the body. It does not replace the heart, but assists the patient's own heart to pump blood, decreasing the work of the ventricle.

It may be used as a "bridge-to-transplant" for those whose medical therapy has failed and are hospitalized with end-stage systolic heart failure, or as a bridge to recovery.